Piano-frame.



No. 885,247. PATENTED APR. 2`1,v' 1908. G. G. HASBROUGK. PIANO FRAME. APPLICATION FILED'IAY s, 1907.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

GEORGE Cv. HASBROUCK, OF NYAOK, NEW YORK.

PIANO-FRAME lTo all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE G. HAs- EROUCK, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Nyack, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano- Franies, of which the following is a speciiication, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to piano frames, and particularly to the back portions of such frames and the parts connected therewith, and the object of the invention is to provide an improvement in the back portions of piano `frames whereby an economy of space, together with greater strength and a better tone are secured.

My invention relates particularly to upright pianos, and is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the separate parts of my improvement are designated. by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which Figure 1 is a back view of an upright piano, the frame of which is constructed accordingl to my invention Fig. 2 a sectional side view, the section being on the line 2-2 of Fig. l Fig. 3 a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modification; Fig. 4 a sectional plan view of the construction as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the section being on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1; and, Fig. 5 a view of a binding screw or bolt which I employ.

ln the drawing forming part of this specilication, reference being made to Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, l have shown an upright piano the back frame of which involves the preferred form of my invention, and in these figures, the ordinary sounding board is shown at a and to the front of this sounding board is secured the usual string plate t with which, in practice, the strings of the piano are connected in the usual manner, but the plate l) and the attachment of the strings form no part of my invention and said strings and their attachmentsare not shown.

The back frame proper of the` piano is of the following construction. Ranging transversely of the sounding board a at the top of the H)iano is the usual wrest plank 0 rearwardly of which and separated therefrom by a space c2 is a transverse plate c3, and at the bottom of the piano is a transverse plate d which corresponds withv the wrest plank@ and ranges transversely of the bottom part of the Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 8, 1907.

Patented April 21, 1908.

Serial No. 372,481.

piano and is also secured to the sounding board a, and rearwardly of the plate d and separated therefrom by a space cl2 which corresponds with the space c2 is a transverse plate d3 which corresponds with the plate c3 at the top of the piano. Placed at regular intervals between the wrest plank c at. the top of the piano, the plate d at the bottoni of the piano and the plates c3 and d3, and in the spaces c2 and d2 are vertically arranged studdings e, and these studdings are arranged in pairs as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Each pair of studdings c is covered by a vertically arrangedplate e2 and, in the form of construction shown, four of the pairs of studdings e and four of the plates@2 are employed and the vertically arranged plates c2 rest on the bottom plate cl3 and the top plate c3 rests on the vertically arranged plates e2, and the back surfaces of the plates c3, di and e2 and the sides f of the piano frame are flush and even. The wrest plank c and the plate c3 are con- `nected by screws or bolts g composed of two parts screwed into a sleeve g2, and in this way the parts a, c, c3 and e are rigidly connected at the top of the piano frame, and similar screws or bolts g are also employed at the bottom of the back of the piano frame, and in this way the sounding board a, the plates d and d3 at the bottoni ofthe back of thefranie and the parts e are also rigidly connected and the. screws or bolts g may also be passed through the front plate b, if desired, and this method of construction is shown in Figs. 2 and 1.

It will be seen that the studdings e are separated from the sounding board a at all points by a space equal to the thickness of the wrest plank c and the plate d, and the `studdings of the central pairs of studdings are provided on their outer sides with metal plates e3, and the inner studdings of each of the side pairs of studdings are also provided with simllar metal plates e3, in the form of construction shown, the object of this construction being to secure greater strength and also a better tone quality. The studdings e which are shown in the drawing as being provided with metal plates e3 on one side may be provided with metal plates on both sides, if desired, or if found advisable,

and the studdings e which abut against the sides f of the piano frame may also be provided ontheir inner sides with metal plates, if desired.

In practice the studdings e are first secured to the vertically arranged plates e2 and this may be done by gluing or in any desired manner, and said vertically arranged plates e2 with the studdings e connected therewith are then placed in position, after which the* plates c3, d3 and the string plate b are placed- 1n position, and the screws or bolts g applied, and the parts e2, c3 and d3 together with the sounding board a, the wrest plank c and the plate d may also be connecter by gluing.

The sounding board a is provided with the usual diagonally arranged ribs a2, in the form of construction shown, but neither the sounding board, in itself, nor the ribs a2, their shape or connection, form any part of my invention. 'Ihe piano is provided with the usual cover 7L which may be hinged to the back frame in the usual or any desired manner, and .it will be understood that the side portions f of the piano case are secured in position and to the back ortion of said case in the usual or any desire@ way.

It will be understood that the separate pairs of studdings e form, in effect, conduits' or passages through which the air is free to pass, and the air is also free to pass around said studdings or between the same and the sounding board a and between the separate pairs of studdings when the cover is raised.

By means of my improvement, I provide a back frame for pianos which is stronger and more durable than frames of this class as are usually constructed, and which occupies comparatively small space, and by means of which the tone of the piano is improved.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing, I have shown a modification which is oi the same construction as that shown in Figs. l, 2 and 4, except that, that portion of the studdings e between the top plates c and c3 and the bottom plates d and Z3 is omitted. The said studdings are employed to separate the plates c and c3, and d and d3 as clearly indicated at e in said Fig. 3 of the drawing. In this form of construction, I also employ vertically arranged side plates .e'i which join the sides f of the piano case and which extend vertically from the plate c3 to the plate d3, and which are secured to the sides f and to the said plates c3 and d3 by gluing or in any desired manner. The said lates eJx cover the opposite sides of the sounc ing board a, while the top and bottom ortions of said sounding board are covered y the transversely arranged plates c3 and da, and d and c, the latter forming the wrest plank, and this form of construction involves many of the advantages of that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is zl. A back frame for pianos composed of transversely arranged top plates and transversely arranged bottom plates, said top and bottom plates being separated by equal s aces, and vertically arranged studdings p aced between said top plates and bottom p LLtes.

2. A back frame for pianos composed of transversely arranged top plates and transversely arranged bottom plates, said top and bottom plates being separated by equal spaces, and vertically arranged studdings placed between said top plates and bottom plates, said studdings extending from the top to the bottom of the frame. l

3. A back frame for pianos composed ol transversely arranged top plates and transbottom plates being separated by equal s aces, and vertically arranged studdings p aced between said top plates and bottom plates, said studdings extending from the top to the bottom of the frame and said studdings between the transversely arranged top plates and bottom plates being covered by vertically arranged plates secured thereto.

4. A back frame for pianos composed of transversely arranged top plates and transversely arranged bottom plates, said top and bottom plates being separated by equal s aces, and vertically arranged studdings p aced between said top plates and bottom plates, said studdings extending from the top to the bottom of the frame and said studdings between the transversely arranged top plates and bottom plates being covered by vertically arranged plates secured thereto, and the said studdings being provided with metal plates which are secured to the side or sides thereof.

5. A back frame for pianos composed of transversely arranged top plates and transversely arranged bottom plates, said top and bottom plates being separated by equal s aces, and vertically arranged studdings p aced between said top plates and bottom plates, said studdings extending from the top to the bottom of the frame, said studdings between the transversely-arranged top plates y and bottom plates being covered by vertically arranged plates secured thereto, and a sounding board connected with said back frame, the said studdings being provided with metal plates which are secured to the side or sides thereof and separated from the sounding board.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of the subscribing witnesses this 4th day of May, 1907.

GEORGE e. HAsBRoUcK.

Witnesses C. E. MULREANY, A. WORDEN GIBBs.

versely arranged bottom plates, said top and 

